1-1           By:  Truan, Carona                              S.C.R. No. 35

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 27, 1997; March 4, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on International Relations,

 1-4     Trade, and Technology; March 13, 1997, reported favorably by the

 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; March 13, 1997, sent to printer.)

 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-7           WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border is a resource-poor region

 1-8     that battles the difficulties of a limited supply of water, air

 1-9     sheds that trap pollution, and a desert environment that preserves

1-10     instead of degrades man-made materials, including hazardous and

1-11     solid waste; and

1-12           WHEREAS, The severity of these resource constraints threatens

1-13     major economic dislocations and adjustments as population and

1-14     industrialization increase as a result of the North American Free

1-15     Trade Agreement; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Environmental degradation of the water, air, and

1-17     other natural resources in the Rio Grande Basin has the potential

1-18     to jeopardize the economic vitality of the region for both Texas

1-19     and Mexico; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The prolonged drought affecting the Rio Grande

1-21     dramatically highlights the region's vulnerability and the need for

1-22     binational cooperation; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Irrigated agriculture on both sides of the border is

1-24     being significantly harmed by the drought, forcing long-term and

1-25     short-term readjustments in water use and public investment; and

1-26           WHEREAS, Although Texas is the downstream claimant to water

1-27     from the Rio Grande, the majority of tributaries to the river

1-28     originate from areas outside the state; and

1-29           WHEREAS, The actions of outside jurisdictions affect water

1-30     supply, water quality, air, and other natural resources of the Rio

1-31     Grande Basin and have a direct consequence on our state; and

1-32           WHEREAS, It is in Texas' best interest to promote the

1-33     protection and wise management of the shared natural resources of

1-34     the Rio Grande Basin; now, therefore, be it

1-35           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-36     hereby urge the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the

1-37     Texas Water Development Board, and other state agencies to work

1-38     with the Congress of the United States and federal agencies to

1-39     develop a structure for binational, comprehensive, basin-wide

1-40     management of the Rio Grande; and, be it further

1-41           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies

1-42     of this resolution to the executive directors of the Texas Natural

1-43     Resource Conservation Commission and the Texas Water Development

1-44     Board and to all members of the Texas delegation to the United

1-45     States Congress.

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